Chapter Fifteen

Knocking softly, she opened the door and was greeted by a tear-stained face. The look of hopelessness in the depths of the silver green eyes tugged at Eden’s heartstrings. She quickly moved into the room, sat on the bed, and took her baby into her arms in a warm, loving embrace. “What’s the matter, darling?”

“I don’t know what to do, Mom, I think Harry hates me!”

A waterfall of tears fell as Eden soothed the blonde hair, whispering into its soft tresses, “Don’t be silly, Nicky. Harry doesn’t hate you, far from it. Shh, darling, it’s going to be okay. I promise.” Holding Nicky close, she listened to the heart-rending tears, waiting for her to stop. Perhaps then she could settle her daughter down. Even though she was a grown woman, Nicky was still her baby. No matter how old she was, that would always be the case. As long as she was alive, her shoulder was always going to be there for Nicky to cry on.

“Oh, Mom, what a mess I’ve made of everything. I feel like I’m in a fog that won’t lift. Why can’t she and I just talk? I get so defensive, when all I want to do is say ‘can we try again’.”

“My darling daughter, if I could take away your hurt and pain, I would in an instant. But, there are some journeys in life we must struggle through alone. I will always be here for you—to love you, to listen to you and to give you a shoulder. My best advice for you right now is to step back and not try so hard.”

“I don’t know if I can, Mom.”

“You can and you will. You are Nichola Ralston, my daughter and a fighter. Is she important enough to fight for, Nic?”

“I’m not sure I have what it will take. Perhaps I will step back and revaluate. Isn’t that the first lesson of a good resear…” She struggled to stay awake as her eyes grew heavy with fatigue.

“Yes it is, sweetheart. Why not try to get some rest before dinner?” Eden soothed her hair and hummed an old lullaby as Nicky drifted off into a more restful sleep.

Arriving for dinner, Harry looked in through the window and could see David Martin talking animatedly with Jacob and Eric. Sucking in a deep breath, she slowly opened the door and maneuvered into the room. Eden immediately walked over to welcome her and offer any assistance she might need. “I’m a little late, sorry.”

“Harry, we are all scientists here and we know that that sometimes often dictates your time. I heard that Neil Jenson has done some wonderful things in the time scale.”

“Yes, he deserves a raise.” Chuckling she glanced around the room. There was a long table laid out for dinner. She almost laughed aloud at the absurdity of being in the wilds without many basic commodities, yet the dining table looked like it had come straight out of a restaurant.

“Let’s get you a drink and introduce you properly,” Eden offered.

Harry hobbled behind her hostess and smiled at the grin Eric Lasser gave her. David and Jacob, however, just gazed at her seriously while sipping their drinks.

“Hi, Harry, things are looking up, wouldn’t you say?” Eric’s friendly voice boomed out.

“Yes, better than I thought, Eric.”

Eden was talking quietly to her husband, who Harry thought she saw scowling but she wasn’t certain. She saw that while Abby was the image of her mother, so Nicky was of their father, but with the softer edges of femininity.

“Ms. Aristides, what would you like to drink?” David asked.

Ah, so that’s how it’s going to be. I thought we agreed in the Martins’ home it would be cordial at least. If that’s how he wants to play, it’s fine with me. I know that game very well. “I’ll have a Scotch and soda, please, Dr. Martin.”

At the formal reply, David gave her a sharp glance. “Eric, what about you?”

“Vodka for me, Dave, just the way you know how to make them.”

“Right with you.”

Eden turned her attention to their younger guest. “Jacob, have you been officially introduced to Harry?”

The man she addressed gave a small smile as his grey eyes sought out her blue ones. Harry’s stare branded him like a hot poker and he was struck by the fact that she was quite an intimidating woman. “Briefly, Eden. Ms. Aristides, pleased to meet you officially.”

She wanted to be formal too, but having never heard him called anything other than Jacob, it proved difficult. “Pleased to meet you, Mr…”

Eden saw the body language between Harry and Jacob, and it obviously didn’t appear friendly. What a bunch! “Why is it that everyone has to be so formal? Look, it’s Harry, David, Jacob, Eric, and Eden.” As the door behind her opened, she glanced immediately to the final piece in the puzzle for the evening…Nicky.

Eden grinned at her and received a small smile in return. “Hey, baby, how are you doing now?”

Nicky’s eyes flickered over the group gathering in one corner. “I’m feeling a lot better thanks, Mom. Dad, I’ll have orange juice if you’re making.”

“For you, anything, darling. Go sit yourself down in the easy chair and I’ll bring it to you.”

Harry watched the exchange, feeling a bit of sadness that she wasn’t a part of the family. Something ached inside of her to be accepted as such, but without Abby there were no ties to ensure she joined the family unit; she was just an acquaintance, nothing more.

You pretty much sealed that fate, didn’t you, Harry?

“Abby, I never knew you were such a nag,” Harry whispered.

David placed her drink on the counter and poured the orange juice for Nicky. “I’ve got my hands full here, would you mind taking this to my daughter?” He handed the glass to Harry with a shrewd glance, then proceeded to make Eric’s drink.

Nicky was instantly by Harry’s side picking up the drinks before heading back to her seat. “Daddy, how did you expect Harry to carry one drink, let alone two, with crutches?”

“I would have figured something out,” Harry said quietly as she followed Nicky. She was disheartened to notice the small woman still had the pallor that accompanied malaria.

David looked up from his task and shrugged. “Don’t know what all the fuss is about. All I asked her…” He stopped in mid sentence when he saw his wife glaring at him.

Harry chose to ignore David’s obvious dislike of her and concentrate on Nicky instead. “Are you feeling better?” As she accepted her drink, their fingers touched. Once again, electricity enveloped them and for a brief moment, no one else was in the room.

Nicky looked deep into the pale blue eyes and saw the sincerity there. “I’m feeling much better, thanks. It’s surprising what a nap can do for you when you aren’t feeling well. Please, Harry, sit and fill me in on Jenson’s progress so far.”

“Gladly,” Harry remarked softly. She sat down in the chair opposite and began to regale Nicky with the events of the day. As Harry talked, Nicky felt herself relaxing and enjoying the simple precise narrative. Nicky asked several questions and before long, Eric joined them in the discussion. Eden followed, and about ten minutes later, David decided, he too, had to give his opinion. Jacob, the only one not involved in the project, stood on the outer circle, watching and listening intently.

The discussion went along with them to the dinner table. The meal was cordial enough, and at some point, the ice had started to melt. Each talked amicably about the project and others they were all participants in. Once the meal was completed, the discussion became more personal, mostly about the Martins and the old days.

Harry sat with her coffee and watched the changing expressions of each participant as they shared memories they had all been privy to. When Abby’s name was mentioned, Harry eagerly soaked in the descriptions of her as a child without the feeling of pain she would have expected. In the past, just the mention of Abby’s name sent her into a dismal mood; now she could smile fondly as the stories were told. She was also surprised that she couldn’t keep from staring openly at Nicky as the youngest reminisced about the days of her childhood. She spoke with great animation and a little of the color came back to her cheeks, causing Harry’s heart to flutter. Nicky really is very beautiful.

Eden had been watching the woman who had loved her oldest daughter to such a degree she wasn’t allowing herself to live life again. There were so many more experiences to be had, some enjoyable, others sad; but the creation of memories that made up the essence of people’s lives was being lost to Harry. After their earlier discussion, Eden had no doubt about the depth of the love Harry and Abby had had for each other. However, to starve one’s self of love and affection had to be against God’s wishes. She didn’t have to look to know exactly whom Harry had been intently staring at for the best part of the last fifteen minutes. How different Nicky and Abby are, just as David and I have been considered a strange match. If Harry met both girls at the same time, would she have chosen Abby? Hmm, an interesting question.

“Mom, it isn’t true, is it?” Nicky was laughing at something her father had said as she asked her mother to verify it.

Lost in her own thought, Eden had no idea what the conversation was about. Falling back on the standard reply in such situations, she replied, “Oh, you know your father, Nicky.”

David Martin recognized the gambit and speculated as to the subject of his wife’s thoughts. Before he could say anything, Jacob began an anecdote of his own and the answer was lost in the new recounting.

Two hours later, Harry thought it was probably time to say goodbye. She thoroughly enjoyed the evening and was reluctant to leave being part of a family—even as a stranger. It had felt good to her. Jacob had left an hour earlier saying he had to complete a paper he was working on. Eric and David were playing cards, and Eden was clearing away dishes and glasses. Nicky had gone out onto the porch to get some fresh air.

“Before I go, may I help you, Eden?”

“Harry, thank you, but you are somewhat incapacitated right now. Why not say your goodnights to Nicky.”

As she turned to do just that, she heard, “Harry.”

She turned to face Eden. “Yes?”

“I’m glad you decided to come on this trip.”

“Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me.” Smiling, she turned and made her way to the porch where Nicky was. Harry stood next to Nicky, both at a loss as to what to say next. Harry couldn’t help but notice how exhausted she looked. “You didn’t overdo it, did you?”

Nicky had enjoyed the evening and thought Harry had too. While listening to the night sounds, the thought had occurred to her that Harry was probably just making sure her employee would be up to carrying out her job responsibilities. “I’ll be capable of working tomorrow, if that’s what you are worried about.”

Harry flicked a puzzled look in Nicky’s direction. She truly hoped the younger woman hadn’t overdone her first time on her feet since her illness, and hadn’t expected Nicky to respond so negatively to her genuine concern.

Once again, the voice haunted her. After how nasty you were to her this afternoon, you shouldn’t be surprised at all, Harry. You can give it but can’t take it…is that it?

After listening to the words that Abby spoke, Harry felt the urge to explain her earlier statements, and to find out if she really was the reason for Nicky not visiting Abby when they had been in the same country. Mostly, she wanted to take Nicky in her arms and feel her softness again. Fighting down the instinct, she pulled herself together. I’d only make more of a fool of myself, and I’ve already done enough of that on this trip. “Good evening, Nicky. I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said crisply before heading out into the warm, dark night as quickly as her ankle would allow. Making her way to her cabin, she was surprised to see Jacob leaving the perimeter. That’s odd. No one should be heading out alone at night. Maybe it has something to do with his work. I’ll ask Eric in the morning.

She was tired, the day finally taking its toll on both her body and her mind. It had been a roller coaster of a day. She wanted to find a place where she could just scream out her pain and let it go. And it was more than just the pain of Abby’s death; her chance to love again was gone.

Abby’s voice, but a whisper on the wind. Only if that’s how you want it, Harry. Don’t settle for less than happiness, my love. You deserve so much more.